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Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece.

Posted by LeenaFor group 0
Leena
player, 9 posts
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 02:01
  • msg #1

Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

The Golden Fleece stands two stories with a cellar, its exterior a white stucco, recently restored and scrubbed clean.  A small courtyard near the front entrance includes a fountain with nymphs dancing in a circle.  The fountain was once entirely of marble, but close inspection would show repairs with plaster.

The backyard has a small but well-tended garden, with a portico.  Tables and chairs — mostly seating two and four persons — allow food and drink to be served, while providing some intimacy.  An exterior kitchen is to the left, separate from the building to reduce the chance of fire.  In the far, right corner of the yard is the outhouse, its pit treated daily with raw cedar shavings and charcoal to reduce the smell.

The interior is mostly dark woods and plaster, although some parts have seen better days.  Regularly visiting guests know that Leena the proprietress is currently restoring it, focusing on the guest rooms and front parlor.  Most areas visited by guests have been completed.

The front parlor is well-appointed, with a long bar, tables, chairs and couches, a bricked fireplace and a small stage to the left for musicians.  The Ladies of the Fleece generally wait there in various states of dress and undress, for guests to come calling.  On occasion, one or more of the girls will dance on the stage, to inspire interest.

Guest rooms are downstairs for hourly “in-and-out” services.  These rooms are small, clean and decent, but hold little beyond a bed, an end table with some wine, and a washbasin.  There are eight such rooms, only four or five of which are generally available at any time.

Upstairs rooms are much better, and include feather beds, stylish furniture and even bathing vessels in two.  There are five such rooms.  The cost for these rooms and the ladies who use them are significantly more than the hourly in-and-outs.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Sun 13 Sept 2020.
Leena
player, 11 posts
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 13:38
  • msg #2

Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

While the Ladies of the Fleece might vary from time to time, several are usually there, if not always available:

Mona and Spyce, both winsome Half-elves, one blonde and one brunette; Diamond, Jenni and Perrin, three Humans with fuller figures and hair of various shades of blonde; Korryn, a red-maned elf with almond eyes; Nell, a Halfling with delicate features and curly, brown locks; Saxai a well-muscled Half-Orc with large, gray eyes; Phila, a willowy Genasi with long blue hair; and Worthy, a buxom white-haired, red-skinned Tiefling.  All are fetching, friendly and forward.  Rumor has it that their compensation at the Fleece is comprised of a percentage of their negotiated fee; consequently, they are incentivized to maximize the deal...although they are not above cutting rates in slow times or for repeat customers.

Filbert, a Dwarf and Dolom, a Human tend bar and serve food, while Madame Kendrie, the elven floor manager and Grub, an enormous Goliath bouncer, look on protectively.  While Kendrie has generally ‘retired’ from the business, she is known to occasionally freelance with a few, select clients...particularly those willing to pay very well.  As with all such establishments, the food and wine are plentiful, decent and overpriced for the brothel's captive audience.  However, the kitchen is capable of putting out a few rare delicacies well worth the price; and Madame Leena's wine cellar holds a few bottles of surprisingly fine vintage.

Generally known, although not officially advertised, is the fact that other narcotic pleasures are available for a price.  Such transactions are carried out almost openly, but imbibing on site only occurs behind the closed doors of the guest rooms.

Other services of a more clandestine nature may also be available on a negotiated basis.  If the local Watch is offended by these practices, they give no indication of it; in fact a few members of the constabulary are regular visitors.  Most folk assume that Leena compensates their selective ignorance with a combination of cash, flesh or drugs.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Sun 13 Sept 2020.
Redrick
player, 5 posts
PI [12] PP [16] PInv [14]
AC [13] HP [24]
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 17:41
  • msg #3

Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

Shifting conversation from Streets to the Venue

Redrick was grinning. The prospect of doing ne'er well was always enticing to say the least. However, if he was going to work the job being presented, he'd need to know a lot more than he did. "Well then, I'll have to see about them. Anyone from their households frequent the Fleece?"

Of mild interest, he noted the peacock elf walking past into the establishment and raised an eyebrow. "Now, that could be a bit of fun. Still not sure which of the two of us is better at cards."

Redrick stood and swept an elegant, precise courtly bow that his tutor would have been proud of. Proud and frustrated that he could do it and, usually, chose not to. Redrick smirked at Leena. "I've work to be about. Rumors won't spread themselves, secrets won't whisper themselves to me, and Galasian-style China won't walk in the doors by itself. Alas, an enterprising young sort such as myself's work is never done."
Malchanar Dal Othar
player, 6 posts
Gentle-Elf about town
AC:13 / HP:24/24
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 18:12
  • msg #4

Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

Malchanar had nothing  in his diary for this evening so he decided to head to the Entertainment District in search of some fun. He selected an appropriate outfit, choosing a fine frock coat in emerald green with trousers to match, paired with a simple white shirt and gaudily red waistcoat. The boots were simple, high length black leather, smartly polished and shining. He topped the ensemble with a tall hat of green velvet with a burst of green feathers poking out of the band.

He glanced in the mirror, and smiled. He was pleased with his choices, and hoped that the ladies would be too. He retrieved his walking cane from the stand by the door and headed out into the soft evening air.

The walk from his apartment in the Housing District was pleasant enough. He greeted a few neighbours warmly, and smiled at a giggling pair of maids as they headed home from their days labour.

Eventually his feet took him to a familiar haunt in the Entertainment District, The Golden Fleece. He straightened his coat and stepped inside. As he stepped across the threshold he wondered which of the charming young ladies was working that evening, and what delights they would have in store for him.
Leena
player, 13 posts
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 19:53
  • msg #5

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

Malchanar Dal Othar:
Eventually his feet took him to a familiar haunt in the Entertainment District, The Golden Fleece. He straightened his coat and stepped inside. As he stepped across the threshold he wondered which of the charming young ladies was working that evening, and what delights they would have in store for him.


Malchanar had been here when nights were busier, and once when they were slower.  This night was somewhere in-between.  Filbert was pouring glasses of West Tenebrian Red behind the bar, Dolom collecting empty glasses and plates from tables where earlier occupents had departed for other pleasures in the building.  Near the stage, a single fiddler played a jaunty tune, accompanied by a woman on the penny whistle.  On the stage itself, Saxai danced, her moves surprisingly lithe and sensual for such a large woman.  Perrin and Koryn were engaged with potentials at tables, Phila was draped languidly across the couch like cool breeze, and Worthy was massaging the shoulders of a well-dressed fellow dicing in the corner with two gnomes, one of whom had Nell perched on his lap.  The other girls were presumably busy elsewhere.

Near the entrance stood the bouncer Grub, just over seven feet in height, with a head that almost scraped the ceiling supports.  In one hand, the enormous Goliath held a club the size of a woman's thigh.  Interestingly, Madame Kendrie, the usual floor manager, was nowhere to be seen at the moment...
Leena
player, 14 posts
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 20:02
  • msg #6

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

Redrick:
Redrick was grinning. The prospect of doing ne'er well was always enticing to say the least. However, if he was going to work the job being presented, he'd need to know a lot more than he did. "Well then, I'll have to see about them. Anyone from their households frequent the Fleece?"


With the faintest movement of her chin, Leena indicated towards the two gnomes dicing in the corner.

Redrick:
Redrick stood and swept an elegant, precise courtly bow that his tutor would have been proud of. Proud and frustrated that he could do it and, usually, chose not to. Redrick smirked at Leena. "I've work to be about. Rumors won't spread themselves, secrets won't whisper themselves to me, and Galasian-style China won't walk in the doors by itself. Alas, an enterprising young sort such as myself's work is never done."


Leena's grin was wide, as she sketched a curtsy of her own, less formal than Redrick's, but also indicative of careful practice.  "Have a fine evening, sir.  I truly look forward to speaking with you again.  Soon.

"Tell Filbert that I said your first glass was on the house...but the second costs double."
  A wink, and a soft hand trailed the side of Redrick's cheek as the lady moved gracefully to a table in the somewhat recessed corner of the room.  Every step was accentuated by a rhythmic sway of the hips.  A moment later, and the raven followed, perching on the back of her chair, it's long, orange bill seeming to leer as it surveyed the crowd like a watchman.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Sun 13 Sept 2020.
Redrick
player, 6 posts
PI [12] PP [16] PInv [14]
AC [13] HP [24]
Mon 14 Sep 2020
at 03:21
  • msg #7

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

Redrick watched Leena sway away in an exaggerated appreciation. He whistled long and low then turned his eyes to the gnomes. A wicked grin ghosted his face before it marshaled into something more akin to his natural jaunty expression. He fished a gold coin he kept in a convenient spot out and began to run it along his knuckles. He shifted his stance to possess the rolling gate of a sailor fresh from the sea and moved across the room looking around with wide eyes.

When he got to the table, he grinned down at the dice and looked surprised, "Oi, can a fellow dice a bit before he seeks other pleasures? I'm fresh into port and looking for a bit of fun." Redrick winked at Nell and cast her the wickedest of grins.
Leena
player, 15 posts
Mon 14 Sep 2020
at 04:04
  • msg #8

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

Both Worthy and Nell played the moment perfectly, giving no indication of recognition as Redrick approached, although he felt the pointed tip of Worthy’s semi-prehensile tale quickly tickle up the back of his leg in clandestine welcome.

“Now, ‘oo’s this then?” Nell said, her burr faintly muffled from nuzzling the neck of her current client as she glanced up at the newcomer as though meeting him for the first time. “A sailorboy lookin’ to dock it straight in a safe ‘arbor, eh?  But with sparklies to wager first, it seems.  C’mon love.   She nibbled playfully at the Gnome’s earlobe.  “Let the longshanks join in a cast or two, an’ mebbe you can buy me somefin’ extra-extra noice.”

Worthy leaned forward to whisper to her own john, the well-dressed gentleman whose shoulders she was massaging. Redrick realized the man was the functionary he’d noticed outside earlier.  Likely, the Tiefling’s whispers were further encouragement in support of Redrick joining the game.

“I say let him play,” the man said with a nod to whatever advice the shapely woman had given.  “Always good to have some fresh blood in the game, isn’t it Sewell?”  The last was addressed to the currently unengaged gnome, for the nonce seemingly much more interested in the rolls of the dice than the flesh around him.  The small fellow nodded absently as did Nell’s guest, and the curvy halfling beamed in return, one hand tracing light circles on the gnome’s chest.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Mon 14 Sept 2020.
Redrick
player, 7 posts
PI [12] PP [16] PInv [14]
AC [13] HP [24]
Mon 14 Sep 2020
at 14:25
  • msg #9

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

In reply to Leena (msg # 8):

Redrick grinned as he felt his pace quicken. There was nothing like the con to make his evening. Getting any of these men to talk about their masters would be worth whatever coin he lost. If he happened to make coin as he did so, why he'd be more the happier. Of course, he'd make sure the men had enough left for evening activities. Even encourage them to attend to the fine ladies in their company. Redrick didn't have any first hand experiences, but he knew Dell and Worhty's reputations. The men would be in for the experiences of their lives.

"Aye, shinies I 'ave. Though I'd sore part with them for your fine company." He winked at the pair. They'd get their cuts if they assisted him. It paid to be well-known. He glanced at the gnomes and the human and clicked his tongue. He wasn't wearing a particularly good disguise, so he'd need to be wary not to make it obvious he was conning them. The sailor was a common enough ruse for him though. "Maybe, if you win enough, you can pay for something extra extra noice?"

Redrick turned his attention to the game but not before flexing his calf against Worthy's tail and smirking at her. "What we playing, lads?" Redrick tossed his shiny gold coin down and looked at the gnome casting the dice. This was going to be fun.
Leena
player, 16 posts
Mon 14 Sep 2020
at 15:14
  • msg #10

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

"Bone Fade," the human answered, a popular dice game in which one dicer, called the 'Hand' would attempt to roll a particular combination on the 'bones' before another, more common combination appeared.  In turn, the other players would either bet with the Hand, or against him, by 'fading,' or covering the bets of those betting with the Hand...usually at beneficial odds.  Depending on the Fade bettors' and Hand bettors' knowledge of odds and probability, the actual 'faded' odds could be more or less than the true odds on an outcome.

It was a game of luck more than skill, with some allowance for mathematical talent.  In a fair game played by careful parties, neither side should have a particular advantage. However, swings of fortune were certainly possible.  And a knowledgeable Hand or crafty Fader could make a killing against rubes with little knowledge of true odds.  Even with such advantages, the use of loaded dice in these informal games was not uncommon.  Finally, even with 'fair' bones, if the Hand was also a talented dice mechanic, he could often control rolls enough to provide an unfair advantage over time.  The trick for such professionals was to shear the sheep, not to skin them.

The unengaged gnome, Sewell, quickly added Redrick's gold to the stacks of coin before him, returning nine silver coins and ten copper ones to the human.  "That's unlikely to last you long here," he warned.  "Swings of fortune happen; you have to be willing to risk more in order to win more."  A thin smile punctuated this 'helpful' advice.

Based purely on the stacks of coins in front of each, it looked as if the 'helpful' gnome who'd just changed him out was winning.  The functionary attended by Worthy had only been playing a short while, and didn't seem particularly ahead or behind.  Nell's client was the clear loser...not that he seemed to mind as she distracted him with caresses, coos and suggestive wiggles.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Mon 14 Sept 2020.
Redrick
player, 8 posts
PI [12] PP [16] PInv [14]
AC [13] HP [24]
Mon 14 Sep 2020
at 17:26
  • msg #11

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

Redrick knew the game; it was played often enough here. He'd even had a set of loaded dice at one point. They were thrown down a sewer grate one evening after he'd skinned a rube. You learned and you moved on. The coin on the stack was nothing to Redrick. "Hey, I'll play and have my fun but I won't spend myself down that I can't afford the real fun, eh lads? Am I right?" He eyed the halfling whore and then the tiefling. Still, best not to push them toward the ladies too fast. Redrick needed his pound of flesh as well.

For the first round, Redrick made safe bets and watched the others interact. When it was his turn to cast, he made sure he was the Hand for only a short time and took a small pot to keep himself even. 01:17, Today: Redrick rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Sleight of Hand.
Today: Redrick rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  Sleight of Hand advantage.


Once he had the lay of the lads, he started the real work. Lose a few rounds, let the lads build up some coin, and direct the conversation. If you knew the odds of the game and were adept enough to manipulate the betters, Bone Fade was a nice, profitable game with better than average social aspects. He tried his best to make sure coin ended up in the hands of lads with ladies to buy. He made sure the conversation steered to where he wanted it, employers, by bitching about the "first mate" aboard his "ship." All the while, his heart skipped beats. "Curses, that's to you again, lucky dog. A fine woman like that and a stack of coin to spend on her. She'll love you, I'm sure! Haha. This keeps up and I'll need to explain to the first mate why I gotta sleep aboard tonight. I'd rather walk through the gates of hell that take his tongue lashings."

01:20, Today: Redrick rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  persuasion.
11:09, Today: Redrick rolled 21 using 1d20+6.  Persuasion advantage.
11:09, Today: Redrick rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  deception advantage.
01:20, Today: Redrick rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  deception.

This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Tue 15 Sept 2020.
Leena
player, 17 posts
Mon 14 Sep 2020
at 18:13
  • msg #12

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

OOC:  Our DM has given me permission to adjudicate minor interactions in Leena's establishment...particularly if their purpose is background to drive other external plot points.

I'd say that Nell and Worthy are essentially performing the 'help' action by distracting the other players to at least some extent.  Go ahead and roll each again to make the social checks at Advantage.  Ditto for future attempts at sleight of hand.


The winning gnome and the human smiled politely, but offered no particular comments to Redrick's japes.  Nell's catch though laughed uproariously, clapping one hand against Nell's thigh in ribald applause.  "Isn't that gospel truth, friend!  I'd much rather take an hour of tongue lashings from an angry girl, than a fiery tongue lashing from the boss!  Not worth the pay, I'd say!"

"If we're speaking of pay, I'd like to remind everyone that 'tongue lashings' -- particularly fiery ones -- cost extra," purred Worthy, her accent liquid and unfamiliar to the region.  The tiefling's tongue ran expertly across her lips, the sensual gesture creating tiny wisps of thaumaturgical smoke and orange embers that crackled for an instant and then quickly vanished.  She offered a broad wink, and the men laughed at the unexpected pyrotechnics.
Redrick
player, 9 posts
PI [12] PP [16] PInv [14]
AC [13] HP [24]
Tue 15 Sep 2020
at 03:29
  • msg #13

Re: Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

OOD: Rolled again and modified my post with advantage. My those ladies are helpful

Redrick smiled at the display Worthy put on and then focused on the task at hand. He was accomplishing most of his goals. He was roughly even on his coin though he'd had to add a few silvers to the pot as things moved along to allow some wiggle room on bets. More important was getting the blighters to gossip about their employ. It was a significant part of any person's life, however they felt about it, and most people had a lot to say on the topic if given half a chance.

He took up the dice for his own run at Hand and looked to the gnome dangling Nell on his knee, "Too right!" He threw the dice and the number came up a six. He crowed a bit. "I recall just the week afore we made port, he had me scrubbing the aft deck. Tells me he wants it shiny. Well, it ain't nothing but wood, innit? How's it meant to be shiny? I scrubbed it good, but I knew he would find some flaw if he wanted to. Sure enough, bitched at me a good half hour then made me do it all again. Cursed blaggard." He threw the dice again and clicked his tongue as they came up seven. "Well, blast me luck. But to hell with him, I got me coin and a night ashore." He handed the dice to Nell's john and grinned, "Karma, my friend. What goes around comes around, I always says."

11:25, Today: Redrick rolled 18 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only.  deception.
11:25, Today: Redrick rolled 22 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only.  persuasion.
11:25, Today: Redrick rolled 18 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only.  sleight of hand.

Workers
GM, 49 posts
The Narrator
Tue 15 Sep 2020
at 04:38
  • msg #14

Entertainment District Site: The Golden Fleece

In reply to Malchanar Dal Othar (msg # 4):

A pair of half-elven ladies greet you as you enter the Fleece.
 “Good evening, sir! And how fine an evening it is, isn’t it? Are you looking for company tonight?”
“Or sustenance, perhaps? Maybe both? Come in, good sir, please! I’m certain we can find something to interest you.”
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